– A total of 700 individuals from 40 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) focused on disability-related issues received orientation on various topics, including legal provisions, vital registrations, CRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), advocacy strategies, local resource mobilization, climate change, and relevant local concerns. These groups held monthly community meetings to discuss their rights and agendas, such as participating in the planning process, disability identification, ID card distribution, school discounts and scholarships, and skill development training. They gathered issues affecting people with disabilities (PWD) and presented them to the respective municipalities during local planning processes.
– SHG networks were established in Mithila Bihari Municipality and Aurahi Rural Municipality. They advocate for meaningful participation in the planning process, inclusion in government structures and committees, accessible education and healthcare, public service centers with accessible infrastructure, and equal opportunities for livelihood support and employment.
– Thirty-seven champions of inclusive development received training on disability inclusiveness, related legal and institutional arrangements for people with disabilities, and effective advocacy for their rights. They released a nine-point declaration outlining their rights and discussed various issues, including ID cards, government structure participation, service provision requests, budget allocation, and involvement in the planning process with ward chairpersons.
– Ward chairs, ward secretaries, women ward members, male ward members, inclusive development champions, as well as representatives of social leaders, youth clubs, and community leaders are now informed about disability-inclusive development. They are committed to voicing the concerns of people with disabilities in local development processes and activities at the grassroots level.
– A lobbying and advocacy guideline has been finalized and printed.
– The Municipality Project Advisory Committee (MPAC) has been established in three Palikas, namely Aurahi, Mithila Bihari, and Janakpur. In a meeting, decisions were made regarding disability screening and ID card distribution, creating accessible infrastructure at public service points, budget allocation, and the formulation of inclusive policies in health, education, and agriculture. They also planned to update the official website for digital accessibility and provide support for livelihood and assistive devices.
– A total of 18 students (7 in Mithila Bihari, 4 in Aurahi, and 7 in Janakpur) enrolled in schools because of an enrollment campaign and home visits.
– Seventeen mothers’ groups, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), social leaders, and traditional healers received training on inclusive education. They pledged to help identify people with disabilities, emphasize the importance of disability ID cards, advocate for inclusive education and school enrollment for dropouts and out-of-school children. Ward chairs and secretaries committed to ensuring the participation of people with disabilities in planning and developmental activities.
– Thirty teachers and members of school management committees received orientation on inclusive education. They agreed to use respectful language when addressing children with disabilities, collaborate with parents to encourage school enrollment and regular attendance, advocate for accessible infrastructure and resource teachers in schools, incorporate inclusive education into the school’s mandate, collect data, request disability scholarships from local government, identify children with disabilities, and implement disability-friendly teaching and evaluation methods.
– Twenty-eight health service providers and municipal representatives received orientation on disability and inclusion. They agreed to support the identification of people with disabilities, maintain a record of people with disabilities in register books, integrate awareness programs about disability into regular activities, participate in health management committees, work towards accessible infrastructure at health posts, and coordinate with LIFE Nepal for higher-level medical referrals.